Jane Miller: Snarl from 'the Carl' caught on TV

Sunday

Oct 28, 2007 at 12:01 AMOct 28, 2007 at 6:38 PM

In the Fast Lane racing column.

Jane Miller

When Tony Stewart likened Carl Edwards to Eddie Haskell last year, people chalked it up to Tony running his mouth.
But after last Sunday's incident with teammate Matt Kenseth, others are coming forward to call Edwards on his changeable personality.
The latest is former teammate Kurt Busch, who is now at Penske Racing.
"With the way 'the Carl' is referred to in that organization, because there is only one of them he is 'the Carl,' he seems to not be getting along with some of the other drivers that are over there," Busch said. "I've seen it all along with him. He'll give you that flashy smile, but at the same time, he's got something underneath his breath for you. Now it's all just starting to appear."
On a television show on Monday, Roush Fenway driver Greg Biffle said of his teammate: "I think the true colors (of Carl Edwards) are coming out there."
And Kenseth, the target of Edwards' ill will which was captured on camera Sunday, said in a USA Today piece this week: "His behavior has been real erratic lately, honestly. You don't know what to expect with him. That's the thing that's a little bit troublesome. One minute, he has so much respect for you, and he's real friendly and everything's so much fun. The next minute he wants to kick your butt and he's swearing at you.
"... I thought it was good in a way that the cameras were there because a lot of us see that, and nobody else does because he kind of puts on a different front."
On Friday, though, the drivers seemed to be tired of the subject. That's when Kenseth put a more humorous spin on the incident.
"Everybody was sick of talking about Jimmie and Jeff driving away, leading the points thing," he said, "so this kind of spiced everything up a little."
Rare Victory
Take note of this because it's something that happens almost never.
Hendrick Motorsports won its appeal of the penalty against Kyle Busch's Busch team at Kansas regarding the intake manifold.
"Obviously, we're pleased with the decision," Hendrick said. "We appreciate the commission giving us the opportunity to present the facts and send a clear message about our performance at Kansas.
"The team prepared a race-winning car that met every rule in the book. It's important that our fans, our sponsors and our competitors know that's the case."
Helping Victims
Jimmie Johnson, Lowe's, Hendrick Motorsports and Speedway Motorsports chairman Bruton Smith will each donate to the American Red Cross ' California Wildfire Relief Fund this weekend.
Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports will donate their race winnings from today's event at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe's and Smith will match their contributions dollar for dollar.
Fans also can help by contributing through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation at JimmieJohnsonFoundation.org.
Johnson, a California native, recalled being forced to evacuate his home a few times as a child.
"This hits pretty close to home," he said.
Hendrick owns automobile dealerships in California and Smith has a vacation home there.
Testing at GIR
Dave Blaney and Jacques Villeneuve tested the COT on Tuesday at Gateway International Raceway in preparation for the Nov. 11 Phoenix race.
The two had time to speak to Gateway's media relations manager Brandon Mudd.
Blaney noted what a relief it is to be in the top 35 in owner points.
"It's actually the safest we've been all year, right now," he said. "We've got more of a gap (on the 36th-place team), so we're actually in fairly good shape with four races to go if we don't have any huge misfortunes."
Pit Stops
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will test a Hendrick Motorsports car for the first time on Monday at Atlanta. ... Patrick Carpentier will drive the final two races of the season in the No. 10 Gillett Evernham Dodge. ... Steve Hmiel, who recently left DEI, has been hired at Ganassi Racing.
Jane Miller is the Peoria Journal Star motorsports columnist.Write her at 1 News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61643, call (309) 686-3207 or e-mail jmiller@pjstar.com.